Cris’s musical journey began when his family relocated from metropolitan Panama City, Panama to the Piney Woods of Deep East Texas as a result of his dad’s military service. The 11 year old Army brat began playing the cornet as a member of his middle school band program and quickly became obsessed with music. After high school, Cris attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, TX earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. He then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies from The University of North Texas, where he was a member of the Two O’Clock Lab Band.

Well versed in a variety of musical genres including jazz, pop, classical and Afro- Latino styles, Cris has proven to be an asset to various ensembles in the DFW area for over 14 years. Equally comfortable in commercial, academic and creative endeavors he has found himself performing at hundreds of weddings and corporate events, arranging and recording horn parts in local studios, choreographing pop shows and mentoring young students on the finer points of trumpet playing.

As a music educator with 16 years experience, Cris's students consistently represent themselves well in the competitive landscape of Texas band culture as well as in international solo competitions. Many of them have gone on to win auditions and scholarships at some of the nation’s top music colleges.

Cris is an alumni of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corp (2008, 2010) and is affiliated with Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society.